Jerusalem governor criticises Israel’s closure of charitable fund

The Jerusalem governor’s office has criticised Israel’s closure of the Jerusalem Fund and Endowment, labelling the action a calculated effort to undermine Palestinian existence in the occupied city, Middle East Eye reported on April 29th.

Established in 2014, the Jerusalem Fund and Endowment is a nonprofit created by Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem to help communities and support them in withstanding the challenges of life under occupation.

The news comes amid Israel’s objections to the UN court hearings condemning Israel’s blockade on aid into Gaza.

In its statement, the office characterised the shutdown, ordered by the National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, as “an aggressive step” consistent with Israel’s wider strategy to diminish Palestinian presence in East Jerusalem. However, it dismissed allegations that linked the fund to the Palestinian Authority as “groundless.”

“The fund is only conducting social, humanitarian, and charitable work, and has no connection to any political activity,” the statement said.

It also condemned the international community’s silence, The New Arab reported on April 29th. It said: “Such blatant attacks would not have continued without the international silence on all the serious violations committed by Israel, the occupying power which violates all international norms and conventions which guarantee civil and humanitarian freedoms.”

Additionally, the Palestinian National Council called the closure part of a “policy of the Judaisation and ethnic cleansing of the Holy City.” They warned of a “dangerous attempt to displace the remaining Palestinian people and impose occupation by force.”

The Palestinian ministry of foreign affairs also condemned the move, calling it “another crime from the occupation.”

Middle East Eye, The New Arab